The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-05-15
A Painters Boyhood.
From the London Globe.

Sir John E. Millais last night distributed
the prizes to the successful students of the
Sheffield School of Art, and took advantage
of the occasion to narrate several eventful
episodes of his life. Fifty years ago his
parents brought him from Jersey to South
ampton and thence to London. AS they
approached the metropolis on the top OF a
mail coach, he remembered that he observed
great red glow in the sky which was new
to him, and he asked his mother what it
was. my boy" she said, "those are the
lights of Londonn-the London in which he
was to sink or swim. Two days later he
was taken by his mother to Sir Martin
Archer Shee, then President of the Royal
Academy, who received them with old
fashioned kindness and politeness. His
mother, who was O clever, practical woman,
and here he should like to say that he owed
everything to his mother) lost not moment
In telling the President the object of their
visit She told him how their neighbors
and friends in Jersey thought greatly of his
talents, thatssshe would not trust to the opin-
ion of friends, and so she had come to him
to ascertain from the best source whether it
would be prudent for his father to bring
him up as an artist The first remark
which Sir Martin Shee made he should
never forget He said: Madam, you had
better bring the boy up to be chimney
sweeper They could imagine that his
hopes looked very black indeed Nothing
daunted his mother replied: But surely,
Sir Martin, you will look at the boys draw
ings before YOU decide Thereupon O port
folio was brought up from the hall and
opened and inspected by the President
After giving the drawings some careful at
tention the President turned TO him, placed
his hand upon his head and looked
him steadfastly in the face,
saying "You did all these
drawings yourself, my little manr
He was too frightened to answer, but the
President evidently thought he was not an
impostor, for turning to his mother he said
emphatically. MADAM, it is your duty to
bring this boy up TO the profession
Following this advice he was at once
placed with Mr.. Sass, in Bloomsbury, but
Mr.. Sass was unfortunately i'll, and he must
say he got little or no instruction from him.
But he was placed among companions who
were much older than himself, some very
clever draughtsmen among the number,
and he improved by looking at their work
and obtaining their criticism upon his own
work He could not too strongly insist
upon the advantage students might be 10
one another. At Mr.. Sass he worked hard,
very hard for so young a boy, and made
great progress From that school he went
into the Royal Academy as a probationer,
and after passing a qualifying examination
flb u SJuOt0b. AS bllo youngest SUI
dent he remembered one duty
in connection with those early days.
He was told oft by the other stu
dents daily TO obtain their luncheons for
them. He had TO collect from 40 TO 80 pence
from his companions, and go with that hoard
TO a neighboring bakers and purchase as
many buns. He had an eye to business even
in these days, for he got commission upon
the transaction. He always got bun for
himself gratis, and the good-natured baker
gave him his best bun--a bath bun, value
twopence. In the very first year Of his
studvntship he entered for prize, q medal
given for the best drawing IN the antique
and failed by one vote, so that he could
thoroughly sympathize with those students
who we're not taking prizes that night. The
next year he ngain tried, aud to his Joy aud
establishment he won first Of three prizes
Since then he had tried for many medals,
and Nc hoped they would not think 10 inn
modest in him 10 say that he had always
won them, because IL was a simple fact.